The First Snow Plus Christmas Fun!

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

I'm writing articles this weekend in between decorating the house for Christmas. When I woke up this morning everything was coated in a beautiful white snowfall. It's just what I needed for holiday inspiration! I decorated the blog, as you can see, with pretty graphics. I'm always giddy when I look through the old fashioned pictures and postcards images I've collected over the years. I love decorating the blog almost as much as decorating my home.

Today I also wanted to share links to some of my favorite articles on Old Fashioned Living. Over ten years of articles makes for a lot of holiday tips and recipes:) I've been making homemade candy, cookies and crafts for 25 years now. The articles below I wrote with tips and recipes for making your own homemade gifts from the kitchen. I've given these gifts to teachers, co-workers, friends, family and special guests that drop in at the holidays. 

-Mixes for Tea, Chili and more...
http://oldfashionedliving.com/giftmixes2.html

-Gifts of Fudge
http://oldfashionedliving.com/fudge.html

-Savory Treats and Mixes
http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/savory.html

-A Sandart Brownie Mix
http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/jarbrownies.html

-Tea and Beverage Mixes
http://oldfashionedliving.com/giftmixes.html

-Homemade Candies from Nuts
http://oldfashionedliving.com/giftnuts.html

-Homemade Candy Recipes
http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/candy.html

-Homemade Mixes for Coffee Lovers
http://oldfashionedliving.com/coffee.html

-Bean Soup Mixes
http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/beanmixes.html

-Cookie recipes including gingersnaps and pantry cookies, 
which I've made for years and everyone loves them. 
http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/gingersnaps.html

-Gifts for the Breakfast Lover-
http://oldfashionedliving.com/holidays/breakfastmixes.html

Lastly I wanted to share a picture I took this morning of the snow covered pine tree in our front yard.

I hope you have a lovely weekend,
Brenda